It was a ballsy move on Branaugh's part, as the other reviewers put it, but any which way you paint this play, it's still not a very good play. I absolutely love the jazz era and thought there might be potential to save a weak script with an interesting turn; sadly, it's a swing and a miss. The only impressive performance is that of Nathan Lane as the clown, but golf claps to you if you get far enough into the show to see him. The other performances are teeth-grinding, they're so bad. Again, I don't want to place too much blame on the actors here; it's just not a very good play, plain and simple. And without good writing, the movie flops.

This was a delightfully ridiculous rendition of Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost. Maybe it was the fact that I watched it late at night, when I tend to be easily amused, but I loved it.

This story may not be the gem that Shakespeare was remembered for, however this film was well put together. It used so many elements from different kinds of story telling, while keeping the emotional flow along with a new version of this old story.
If anyone likes old school musicals than this movie also provides a look back into an glamorous time in film. Not to mention the actors and actresses are amazing. Nathan Lane, I mean come on, the man is always awesome when it comes this sort of thing.
Now if you're not down with old school musicals than there is no way this would keep your interest, just being honest. I loved it, but not everyone likes that feeling from huge ballroom-like dance numbers, and chorus line kind of singing. However I also feel that if someone isn't down with the Elizabethan era type speak, then that's okay. The film breaks down every act, if you were to divided it up like a play, so you always know what's going on. Since each time that happens it's done in a fun old timey movie theater way, it's entertaining even if you are up on your Elizabethan times speak.
All in all, it is a delightful movie about love with amazing performances.

Wonderful juxtapositions. Out of style, so overlooked. Great fun if you don't take the whole Shakespearean ethos too seriously,

You can't make a silk purse of out this, Shakespeare's sow's ear. Even using some of Cole Porter's most interesting songs, the movie did not hold together. While I love Alicia Silverstone in most of her movies, she simply does not have the diction or pacing for Shakespeare. Often it appeared that she did not understood the meaning of her own lines. Acting techniques for stage versus film are quite different, The director should have known better. Interesting premise, but it did not work.

I'm willing to give adaptations of Shakespeare a chance, certainly. "Romeo + Juliet" with Claire Danes and Leonardo DeCaprio is an excellent example - I loved it. But *this* is a nightmare. Everyone knows "Love's Labour's Lost" is far from Shakespeare's best work, but to see it done this way - a MUSICAL, for heaven's sake - is just too far over the line for me. And Branagh should be ashamed of himself. Meh - to each his own, but I think I'll say "pass."